The thing that is so wrong with pretending sin doesn’t exist, or that God is okay with sin, is that when we do, we put a stumbling block in front of our brothers & sisters. As the scriptures say, we block the way to eternal life. We don’t enter ourselves, and we keep others from entering too. That is why it is so disturbing when a person perceived to have authority before God, condones sin, even goes so far as to bless sin on God’s behalf.
As the body of Christ we are to hate sin and love the sinner. We want others to discover what we have, so we love others by inviting them to experience Ekklesia (what Jesus said he would build), the fellowship of the Living God. No one is excluded. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, and all are welcome. But as an unbeliever experiences the Triune God in the fellowship of the body of Christ, the Spirit will convict that person that he is a sinner. And God’s mercy will want to lead them to repentance. That is the outcome we all hope for. But it is possible that the natural man, under the influence of God’s enemy, will want to stay in a state of sin (habitual, lifestyle sin). If that is the case, that person is free to do so. But at some point, they are not free to continue in the fellowship gatherings of the Ekklesia (and most likely will not want to). The Ekklesia can never change to accomodate a sin lifestyle. We are not to be conformed to the world but transformed into Christ.
We do not judge those outside the body of Christ. But judgement has come to the household of God. And those who answer God’s call and see the value of the shed blood of Christ will willingly lay down their life of sin (pictured by burial in the water of baptism) and begin life anew (coming up out of the water as anew creation in Christ) as a newly born member of the body of Christ.
A gradual change begins in us from that moment and until our last breath. We are being transformed into the image of Christ. The Spirit will work in us, identifying behaviors and preoccupations that must go. What comes naturally for us will be challenged. For example, if we are passive by nature, the Spirit may compel us to challenge someone we have suffered long with. If we are always talking, the Spirit may challenge us to control our tongue. What an adventure this is! And we learn so much through our relationships, in the Ekklesia (Christ in one another) and also in our families, as often it’s those who know us best who challenge us most. We will be challenged to forgive one another seven times seventy-seven times. We will be challenged to bear one another’s burdens and rejoice at one another’s successes. (For a list of “one another(s)” search the NT Letters with those two words.)
We suffer together through sorrow and joy until we all come to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ. This is the goal and what God is working toward. Jesus Christ is patiently waiting for His bride to come to maturity. Can we not resist the lust of the flesh, pride, selfish ambition and whatever else that might ensnare us? Let’s encourage one another and run the race marked out for us.
We live in total dependence on the Spirit of Christ who dwells within us. He will not lead us into sin. He will keep us on the path to life. Let us not be deceived into thinking we are on that path, when we are actually walking in a lifestyle of habitual sin. Well-meaning friends may try to convince you of that. They are not your friends. Get familiar with the scriptures. God does not hide himself from those who diligently seek Him. A person can appear extremely faithful in their service and sacrifice. But if their life is not marked by extreme love for the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished for us all, they are a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. The Lord Jesus Christ poured out His most precious blood to gain for Himself a body of believers who will lay down their lives for Him. Are you fully confident you are a member of this body? The flesh profits nothing. Let us come boldly to the throne of Grace. There we will find all we need to overcome our fleshly lust.